Saint Mary's beacon., 1887-05-12

| - ~"~ ~~@s6@ss F@tSAIuA1EtN
remember one crop. Just before the
melons begun to get ripe my father
called Black Bill and me and said
4 want you boys to understand one
thing. II one Of my melons is stolen
/ am going to measure the tracks that
find in the patch and then measure
feet, and the owner Of the feet that
correspond with the tracks shall get a
whipping that he can never forget.
See this hickOry?' pointing to long
and cruel-looking switch which be had
placed above the dining-room door.
Well, if either of you want to catch
this switch, pitch in Bill shook his
head and muttered that he dIdn' t
want it that be would rather be kill
ed by a steer told Buck few weeks
before had thrown Bill against tree
and knocked off the bark than to be
cut TO pieces with such a switch; and
assured my stern parent that so far
as ! was concerned he might rest in
peace. Bill was the only negro We had,
and although he was compelled to 60
to church every Sunday, riding on the
seat behind the buggy, and although
he sat in the buggy during services,
and without effort could hear every
word Of the sermon. yet that boy with
ell his careful training was inclined to
be q thief.
The next dag after the proclamation
was issued / went out and looked at
the melon patch. There. lying in the
sun, striped and tempting. lay a
beautiful melon. All, if there were
anything that could make southern
boy forget honor it was watermelon.
| trembled, for l know / could not
prevent myself from stealing it, and
then thet awful switch came up before
me. An idea struck me. went to
the house, stole into the cabin and
got Bills shoes. What an enormous
foot the rascal had The shoes were
so large that they would not stay on
my feet but / overcame this drawback
by stuthng them with grass. 1slipped
around and entered the patch from
locust thicket. A rain had fallen the
day before and made decided tracks
in the level ground. Igot the melon,
stole back to the thicket. and, although
it was not ripe, ate more than half
of it. Then | returned Bills shoes.
That afternoon, while Bill and l were
in the yard, saw my father, carefully
carrying a small stick, enter the gate.
His face wore an unusually stern ex-
preston and l saw that there was
something wrong.
i don't think that much measuring
is needed on this OCCASION said he,
glancing at the stick. Bill, where
are your shoes? ?
In de calm, sah.'
Bring them here
He brought the shoes. The old
gentleman applied the measure and
said; Fresh dirt on them, | see.'
Bills face become study. 'Doan
know how it come on dar, marster
Amt wore EN- sense last Sunday
Yes, that's all right. john turn
ing to me, fetch me that switch.
My heart smote me, but | brought the
switch. Then Bill began to dance.
l never did see fellow get himself
into so many different shapes, and it
seemed that every shape was better
suited to the switch. / had to snort.
| couldn't helpit. kept out of Bills
way as much as possible, for he seemed
to look reproachfully at me, but be
did not accuse me of delivering him
} up to the enemy, and l had begun to
persuade myself that Bill had stolen
the melon, when two days later came
to grief. Bill and l were again in the
yard when my father entered the gate
carrying a small stick. John, said
, he as he approached, where are your
shoes?'
In the house, sir
Bring them here.
| got my shoes. Great Cesar there
5 was fresh soil on them. Come on
come on. said the old gentleman.
: handed him one shoe and dropped tn,
other one. Bill, said he, aftel
measuring the shoe, bring me tha
switch. Bill bounded with deligh
!, and brought the switch.
Pap l cried, please don't viii,
me; | amt done nuthin-Oh-'
l danced. cspered and l met tn,
switch at every turn. In my agon,
s | caught sight of Bill standing at tn,
corner Of the house and suorting lik,
a glandered horse. Bill kept out o
my way, but that evening l met hin
and asked:
Bill, how did you wear my shoes?
How did yer war mine?
| Put grass in en-
Wall, tuck er par er short stilt
, an put yer shoes on de ends o EN-
Reckon we'se erbout even now. Oh
| tell yer whut's er fack, John, i
don't do ter fool wild me, case Is,
{ one o de 'n'inted by de saints